Hi All-- other than a months-ago foray into the mailbags board, this is my first new topic… be kind…
I did a search through all open topics but didn’t find what I was looking for, which is: how many of the SDMBers are practicing pagans? Granted, I suspect that people might feel more free to discuss the topic here than in “real life,” but it seems to me that I’ve encountered more admitted Wiccans, etc., here than in my everyday contact with non-board people. In fact, when I mention my own interest in pagan religions to such folks, the conversations fizzle pretty quickly.
I’m putting this in MPSIMS because it’s really sort of a survey, but I certainly wouldn’t mind if you want to include your reasons for your choice.
Oh, and [sucking up] I’ve really enjoyed my time on the board so far! [/sucking up]
(actually, that’s entirely true!)
Gamera is really neat, he is full of turtle meat, we’ve been eating Gam-er-aaaa…
Your not looking to burn us all at the stake are you?
I am very open and honest about being Wiccan. The only problem that I tend to have is that I wear my penticle and everybody either thinks I am in practice with Satan, or they try to save my soul.
The other confusion people seem to make is that I have been somehow suckered and “You do know that that is not the Star of David?” Um, really? I come from Jewish heritage, and gosh would I be embarassed showing up! Thanks for clearing that up for me. :rolleyes:
Have you been to Esprix’s thread about the letter to the pagan parents from the teacher? Maybe someone else can put the link in here, since I haven’t figured that one out yet.
I’ve been to Esprix’s thread, Kricket, and loved it! And nope, there are no human bonfires on my agenda
It just never ceases to amaze me, as naive as this may sound, that so many people still think “evil” when someone says “pagan” or “Wiccan.” Too much misinformation, I guess. Sometimes I wonder how many pagan folks there are in my daily life, who just don’t feel that they can safely be open about it. For instance, I have a coworker who has verses from the Bible running as her screensaver, but I have yet to see “An ye harm none, do as ye will” scrolling across anyone’s computer!
Gamera is really neat, he is full of turtle meat, we’ve been eating Gam-er-aaaa…
I just went through orientation for Oscar Mayer and we had to take a course on diversity.
Half-way through they asked us if there are certain words or symbols that can make us feel uncomfortable. I was just waiting for someone to mention five-pointed stars.
When we did our safety training for electricity they made mention that everything should be grounded. I said well of course it should. I don’t think they got it. I told one of my pagan friends about it and we had a good laugh!
Have you ever watched Darma and Greg? That is kinda the situation that I am in. My husband is a military person raised Baptist, and I have always been more of a free spirit. Our children do holidays from both religions, and then I try to teach them about all others so that they can choose what they believe.
Anyway chances are if anybody put up a screen saver with a pagan quote it could be construed by some as harassement because some people just don’t understand. Misinformation is a bitch! It could go both ways though. Some pagans could get offended by christan quotes. The work place is getting very touchy about deversity and harrasement.
Surgoshan, where did you get that term? One of my friends “invented” it (in fact, it’s his AIM handle. Or was.) I’ve used it a couple of times (once on this MB), but I didn’t think it had spread that far.
Since I’m asking such a personal question of everyone else, it’s only fair that I spill my own guts.
I was raised Catholic but over the last year or more, have realized that I feel more of a sense of peace and potential for connection with things spiritual when I read about Wicca. So I’m sort of in between, and thinking a lot.
My two cents, shamelessly added to my own thread
Gamera is really neat, he is full of turtle meat, we’ve been eating Gam-er-aaaa…
I’m an ex-pagan, now currently an atheist secular humanist. Stay tuned though, I’ve been a Catholic, Episcopalian and Quaker as well, so who knows what the future may bring!
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
Count me as a pagan. I don’t call myself Wiccan or a witch, because I don’t do spells & stuff. Not that I have anything against them, mind you–it’s just that I’m pretty new to it too, and I’ve got two small children, ages 3 and six months. I just haven’t had the time to sit down & learn stuff. I want to, though. I read pagan/Wiccan books whenever I can. Got quite a collection, I must say.
I thought about putting “an ye harm none, do as ye will” on my screen saver at work, seriously! Changed my mind when I realized I’d have to go into detail about what it really meant. I do like my coworkers alot, but they are overwhelmingly hardcore Christians, and I just didn’t feel like causing any tension. There are a couple of people in my office that know I’m pagan, though. I have a feeling that most of them suspect I’m not Christian now, especially after I came in to work a few weeks ago with a moon & pentacle tatooed on my ankle.
Cristi, Slayer of Peeps
I made my husband join a bridge club. He jumps next Tuesday.
Cristi-- I remember reading the thread about your new tattoo (congrats!) and I kind of thought the pentacle had some significance for you. I understand concerns about not wanting to cause tension at work; I have a few small pieces of non-pentacle jewelry that I wear, but should I ever find a pentacle piece I like, I’ll think twice before wearing it to work. Cheers to you for having the guts to get that tattoo!
I am thinking about putting up that “An ye harm none” screensaver…
Gamera is really neat, he is full of turtle meat, we’ve been eating Gam-er-aaaa…
We’re both kinda like Cristi, identify with pagans/Wiccans, but don’t practice. Among our circle (no pun intended) of friends, most are the same, or do practice. My family doesn’t know what to make of us.
As I’ve alluded to (and actually posted) in other threads, I am pagan. I deal with the workplace harassment on a daily basis.
I do wear a pentagram necklace at all times. I get lots of stares, quite a few comments (although mostly positive) and one actual confrontation (is that spelled right? It looks wrong…)
My co-workers hate my necklace but they know if they complain the management will ban any religious jewelry. However, they do post Biblical quotes and the like all over our office. Two guys who work in security (next office over) are also pagan and when we put anything up, it always gets taken down by a mysterious “someone” and no one admits to it. Yet, if anything happens to their things (cleaning staff removed a postcard from the wall once) they report me to our boss without even checking with me first.
Oh, I’m sorry, was this not the pagan-bitching thread? Excuse me, I’ll be going now…
“You don’t have insurance? Well, just have a seat and someone will be with you after you die.” --Yes, another quality sig custom created by Wally!
A Jesusfied sig: Next time I covet thine opinion, I’ll ask for it!
As for visible displays… well, go look at the back end of a late-model Volkswagen. See that big, round, conspicuous, silver VW logo? I’m having a friend make me a metal pentacle exactly the same size, and I’m going to mount it over the logo on my Jetta. (It may sound weird, but I think it’ll look pretty cool.)
I do wear a necklace, a crescent moon with a small pentacle hanging from it. I do not take this necklace off. Ever. I have worn it ever since I discovered that I am pagan (one of those epiphany-type realizations). Good things have been happening to me ever since. When bad things happen, they always seem to be followed very shortly by something good.
I was discussing this thing with a friend who knows I practice goddess-worship, and I told her that I think the reason things have been going so well for me lately is because now I do most of my dealing with a woman. My friend just said “Hey, you might be on to something there…”
Cristi, Slayer of Peeps
I made my husband join a bridge club. He jumps next Tuesday.
